Sony A390 vs Sony QX100

On this page, we will be reviewing the Sony A390 versus Sony QX100, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Lens-style and both of them are created by Sony. There exists a huge gap among the sensor resolutions of the A390 (14MP) and QX100 (20MP) and the A390 (APS-C) and QX100 (1") offer totally different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The A390 was introduced 4 years prior to the QX100 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Sony A390 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony QX100 being a Lens-style camera.

Before getting right into a in depth comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the A390 scores vs the QX100 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX100. The whole galleries are provided at Sony A390 Gallery and Sony QX100 Gallery.

In case you're intending to carry your camera often, you will need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Sony A390 enjoys outer dimensions of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") and a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs) whilst the Sony QX100 has dimensions of 63mm x 63mm x 56mm (2.5" x 2.5" x 2.2") along with a weight of 179 grams (0.39 lbs).

Look at the Sony A390 versus Sony QX100 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are working with at that time. Below is a front view physical size comparison of the A390 versus the QX100.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the A390 and QX100 is 66 and 92 respectively.

Typically, it is hard to see the contrast in sensor sizing purely by going through specifications. The photograph underneath will give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the A390 and QX100.

To sum up, the 2 cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The A390 with its bigger sensor will make getting shallow DOF less difficult and the Sony QX100 will show greater detail using its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The older A390 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.